Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest 2025

In today's Gospel we hear Jesus say of the crowd: "I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way." Christ reveals His love for the people gathered around Him. He sees their need, and He refuses to let them go unsatisfied. He also allows the disciples to play a role in sharing His gifts with the people. They become instruments of His blessings.

This Advent season, we are the crowd gathered around Christ. We spend time with Him in prayer, listening to His teachings. We let our hunger for His presence grow, as we wait for His coming. And we remember that His heart is moved by our needs. He desires that our hearts be satisfied.

These three things: time with our Lord, hunger for His presence, and knowledge of His love, provide a secure foundation for our ministry. Many people in our world are hungry, in both body and soul. How will we, like the disciples in the Gospel today, become instruments of God's blessings to a hungry world?